Another major award for St Austell Brewery

The St Austell team at the award ceremony. Left to right are Chris Knight, Jackie Scarfe, James Staughton, Ian Blunt and Jeremy Mitchell

St Austell Brewery has been announced 2017 West of England Business of Year, for businesses with turnover more than £30m.

The award — sponsored by PwC and run in association with Circle2Success, Devon and Cornwall Business Council and Bristol, Bath and Swindon Business News — judges companies not only on profitability and business management, but also on their commitment to the communities they work in, the environment and their workforces, with winners picked for under £30m turnover and over £30m categories.

Collecting the award at Aerospace Bristol, St Austell Brewery chief executive, James Staughton, said: “We are enormously proud to have been picked as winners from such an outstanding group of finalists.

The testing criteria for the PwC awards are what make them so prestigious, and they also serve to highlight the amazing standard of businesses operating across the South West at all levels. It is a very real honour for all of us at the company to see our efforts recognised and rewarded amongst such great competition.”

The independent judges hailed St Austell’s sustainable growth, the bold acquisition of Bath Ales, product
diversification, and continued investment back into the business, including new brewing technology.

Particularly noted was the brewery’s investment in product and service innovations, including the launch of a 330ml can of Tribute to be served to British Airways customers — potentially reaching up to 27 million passengers — and the installation of the Small Batch Brewery to help meet the demand for new beer styles and flavours.

Nick Morgan, PwC’s head of tax in the West region and chair of the judges, said: “St Austell Brewery has seen turnover increase by 44.5% to over £153m. The brewery, which employs over 1,400 staff, also impressed award judges with its training facility, planned new Exeter-based chef academy and successful apprenticeship scheme.

“I would personally like to congratulate St Austell and all the 2017 award finalists. This year’s competition saw a diverse range of businesses, showing the strength and breadth of the businesses here on our doorstep in the West of England.”